Denver's Todd Baxter (24) celebrates his goal as Johns Hopkins' goalie Pierce Bassett reacts during the second quarter of last weekend's quarterfinals. Baxter had three goals during Denver's 14-9 win.

BALTIMORE — Senior attack Todd Baxter, perhaps DU’s most important overall player, will play against Virginia in Saturday’s NCAA Final Four. He practiced Thursday for the first time this week and is set to again work with his teammates in today’s afternoon workout at M&T Bank Stadium.

“I’m much stronger than I was a week ago,” Baxter told me before today’s practice. “A little less tape on my knee, but sticking with the brace, and I pretty much have a cast going on my ankle. It’s stronger.”

Baxter, who is second on the team in goals (31) and third in points (49), suffered a high-ankle sprain and partially torn knee ligament in his right leg on May 7. He missed the May 14 first-round NCAA Tournament game against Villanova and made a gutsy and productive return last Saturday against Johns Hopkins, scoring three goals before tweaking the ankle late in the third quarter. He limped off the field and told coach Bill Tierney “I’m done for the day.”

Some thought he was done for the year.

“The tweak was on the third goal,” Baxter said. “I just stepped wrong trying to stay out of the crease. But no significant damage, just a slight tweak. I’m definitely going to be out on the field Saturday.”

Baxter, from Eden Prairie, Minn., is DU’s emotional leader, and he completes the feared attack trio with juniors Mark Matthews and Alex Demopoulos.

“He’s going to have a big impact, just like last weekend,” junior attack Alex Demopoulos said. “He’s a tough guy and he’s still the impact player he’s been all season.”

Baxter’s return moves sophomore Eric Law back to midfield, where he shares first-line offensive duties with Chase Carraro, Cameron Flint and Jeremy Noble.